Karlie Kloss has had a very busy month. Not only did she team up with Coach and fellow mega-model Liu Wen for a fall campaign centered around New York City, she also spent the last few weeks traveling all over Europe for fashion month. "It’s the most exciting and chaotic time of the year!" Karlie told us. "There’s so much going on that adrenaline kicks in, and early mornings and late nights become the norm. My favorite moments are always backstage— I love the creative energy and chaos that goes on leading up to showtime."

So how does she manage all the mania? "Well, I always travel with a Karlie’s Kookie in my bag! I’m the queen of snacks," she says."I need something nutritious and delicious for when I get hungry backstage or on planes. I love to re-hydrate with coconut water, and dark chocolate is my secret weapon for on-the-go energy."

When she’s not jetsetting, Karlie calls the West Village home. But before NYC came St. Louis, where she went to high school. "My very first school dance was my homecoming freshman year," she says. "I wore a Jason Wu spring 2007 cocktail dress. No one in my school had any idea, but I had just walked his show and he lent me this gorgeous piece for this special night."

Even if you’re not headed to homecoming in a designer gown, you can still totally channel some of Karlie’s trademark confidence. "During your teenage years, your body is constantly changing and it’s extremely important to take care of your well-being," she explains. "I found that eating healthy, taking care of my skin, and ercising were great ways for me to control how I was feeling. Beauty and confidence starts from within, so first and foremost you have to take care of you from the inside out."

Find out about Karlie’s New York hotspots in her Coach video below, and click through to go behind the scenes with her and Liu (and an adorable puppy!).